Study: Companies storing valuable data in the cloud

Cloud computing is maturing rapidly, according to a recent study, and with its growth may come increased need for data protection measures.

The study, published by microprocessor manufacturer AMD, found that approximately 70 percent of organizations are either currently using cloud-based applications or are considering doing so.

This figure, according to AMD, indicates that the cloud market is maturing. Public and private sector organizations in the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region were polled for the study.

According to the study, a growing number of organizations are storing valuable data in the cloud. Of those companies that have already deployed cloud computing, approximately 63 percent said they store data worth more than $250,000 in the cloud.

If the survey's data is reflective of broader trends, billions of dollars worth of active data are now being stored in the cloud, indicating that cloud computing security ought to be a key priority for many organizations.

Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager of the server and embedded divisions at AMD, said the study's findings indicate that "it is time for the industry to re-shape the way we think about cloud technology."

According to Patla, "the findings point to the fact that, while the era of cloud computing has arrived, there are radically different attitudes, approaches, concerns and levels of maturity depending on business environment."

The study found that most organizations with cloud computing have a good understanding of its benefits. Approximately 60 percent of respondents who have already deployed cloud solutions said they see the business value of the technology.

With the rapid growth of the cloud, cloud computing security requirements are constantly changing. A recent Network Computing report described cloud data protection as a "moving target."